Duck Wings Recipe - Honey Mustard Duck Wings | Hank Shaw (2024)

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5 from 4 votes

By Hank Shaw

November 24, 2014 | Updated March 03, 2022

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One of my great crusades in wild game cookery is to convince people to keep more of the animals they bring home. In the case of bird hunting, this often means the wings. Duck wings are among the finest of all wild bird wings.

So here’s an easy recipe for honey mustard duck wings you can use for wild or farmed ducks.

Duck Wings Recipe - Honey Mustard Duck Wings | Hank Shaw (2)

Wings are a staple at sports bars (and really any casual restaurant), but they are always from chickens — and usually crappy, factory-farmed chickens. But try to make duck wings the same way and you end up chewing on leather. Duck wings are not like chicken wings, even from lazy, farmed birds. The wings are much tougher.

There’s a work-around, however. Braise the duck wings first, then coat them with sauce and roast them.

This method works great with all kinds of wings, from giant turkey wings down to grouse wings. But it’s best with duck wings and pheasant wings.

You should know that braising the wings of wild birds is something of a roulette: Really old birds can often take a full hour longer to get tender, compared to young-of-the-year. I generally overcook the young bird wings to ensure that the old ones are edible.

My original recipe for this was the classic Buffalo duck wings, but now you see all sorts of different flavors on a wing. Honey mustard wings are my favorite of these alternates, although I love a spicy-sticky Asian style wing, too.

I adapted a recipe for honey mustard wings from my friends over at White on Rice Couple, who are equally wing-obsessed. Mustardy and reasonably sweet — I prefer my mustard to have honey in it, not my honey to have mustard in it — Holly and I annihilated the plate in about 3 minutes.

Wanna make this recipe? If you are a hunter, save up the drumettes from all your birds, and the second digit, the “flat,” of larger birds like pheasants and big ducks like mallards, pintails, canvasbacks, redheads and gadwall. As you collect them, vac-seal your duck wings in packages or just wrap in plastic wrap until you get at least 20 wing pieces.

Duck Wings Recipe - Honey Mustard Duck Wings | Hank Shaw (3)

If you are not a hunter, your best bet to buy duck wings is to look in an Asian supermarket. A Google search will turn up a number of options, but I’ve never bought from any of them so I can’t vouch for the quality.

Or you can just use this recipe with regular chicken wings, and skip the braising step. If you do braise chicken wings, it should only take an hour. If you skip that step, the roasting will take closer to 30 minutes, but keep an eye on them.

Then make your duck wings for Football Day or whenever. You won’t be sorry.

5 from 4 votes

Honey Mustard Duck Wings

I made this recipe with wild duck wings, but chicken or pheasant wings would work just as well. If you wanted to, you could also make it with duck legs, too. If you want to make it with store-bought meat, obviously your main option is chicken wings. They do not need to be pre-cooked.

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Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6 people

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 pounds duck wings
  • 1 quart duck stock or chicken broth
  • Salt
  • 1/2 cup yellow mustard
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • Splash of Worcestershire sauce
  • Cayenne and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Put the wings and the broth in a heavy, lidded pot. If they are not totally covered by the broth, add water until the wings are covered. If you need to add water, sprinkle a little salt in there, too. Bring to a simmer and cook gently, with the lid on, until all the wings are tender. You want the meat to be thinking about falling off the bone. Normally this takes 2 hours, but 3 hours isn't unreasonable.

  • Meanwhile, make the sauce by mixing all the other ingredients to a small pot and bringing it to a simmer. Turn off the heat and tinker with the flavors by adding more salt, honey, cayenne or black pepper.

  • When the wings are ready, put them in a bowl and add the sauce. Toss to coat. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Set the wings on a baking sheet (save the excess sauce) so they don't touch each other and bake until they begin to brown on top, about 15 minutes or so. Turn and repeat. Toss with the remaining sauce and eat.

Notes

If you want extra flavor, you can braise, then marinate the wings in the sauce overnight, then roast them. This is what I do for Super Bowl.

Nutrition

Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 301mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
American Recipes, Appetizers and Snacks, Ducks and Geese, Featured, Recipe, Wild Game

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Duck Wings Recipe - Honey Mustard Duck Wings | Hank Shaw (2024)

FAQs

How to make duck taste good? ›

Duck breast fillets can be brined for six to 12 hours. If you're short on time, just a few hours in the brine will always help. Once brined, give your ducks a rinse with cold water, pat dry and start your favorite recipe.

Is duck wing healthy? ›

It is packed with high-quality protein, which is crucial for muscle development and repair. Duck meat also contains vitamins such as B vitamins (including B12), which support energy production and nervous system health, as well as minerals like iron and zinc, which contribute to overall well-being.

Are duck wings good for dogs? ›

Duck Wings make for an ideal bone for your dog. The perfect size for a crunchy treat or add to your dogs dinner. A complementary feed and to be fed as part of a natural raw diet, Duck Wings, like most bones are brilliant for cleaning your dogs teeth naturally.

Can you eat duck wings? ›

Our crowd-pleasing Duck Wing Drummettes are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Fully cooked to save you time in the kitchen! Perfect for casual get togethers or for a bite at a brewery. Toss them in your favorite sauce or serve a sauce on the side for dipping.

What do you soak duck in before cooking? ›

By definition, a brine is simply a mix of water and salt. Some like adding seasoning to the brine, but that is a matter of personal taste. Blood is drawn out when wild game meat is soaked in the brine, and the brine penetrates the meat. The result is milder, more tender meat for your favorite recipe.

Why do you soak duck in milk? ›

Soaking ducks in various liquids is a common “cure” for the taste that seems offensive to many. Some soak duck breast in milk, wine, bourbon, salt water and probably a bunch of other stuff.

Is duck better for you than chicken? ›

Despite this, duck has a higher vitamin content than chicken. Duck has high amounts of iron and copper as well lower amounts of cholesterol and sodium. Duck is a slightly healthier option for this reason!

Is duck meat good for high blood pressure? ›

Its impact on blood pressure may be minor overall ( 13 ). Furthermore, duck fat is high in calories, which, when consumed in excess, may contribute to excess body fat and weight gain ( 17 , 18 ).

Is duck bad for high cholesterol? ›

Duck is an oily meat with a distinctive taste that contains large amounts of protein, iron, and vitamin B. But because it also contains large amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat, you'll want to eat it sparingly if you're watching your cholesterol.

Why can't dogs eat cooked chicken wings? ›

Just be sure not to cook the raw chicken wings before serving them to your pooch. Cooked chicken could be a potential choking hazard to your dog as the softened bone may splinter and cause internal injury to the windpipe.

Is duck inflammatory for dogs? ›

This is a question that many dog owners ask, and for good reason. However, many holistic veterinarians recommend duck meat for dogs. Because duck is considered a “yin” food in Chinese medicine, it can have a cooling and calming effect for pets with inflammatory conditions like allergies, cancer and arthritis.

Is duck meat better than chicken for dogs? ›

Duck is also a good source of iron and protein. The iron content in duck is higher than any other poultry, and the protein content is around the same as the dark meat of chicken. Long story short, the margin isn't huge but duck definitely has chicken beat when it comes to health considerations.

How do you prepare duck wings? ›

Combine olive oil, garlic, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large, resealable bag; seal and shake to combine. Add chicken wings; reseal and shake to coat. Arrange chicken wings on a baking sheet. Cook chicken wings in the preheated oven until crisp and cooked through, about 30 to 45 minutes.

Why is it OK to eat duck rare? ›

While the USDA recommends cooking duck to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165° F (74° C) to avoid the potential risk of salmonella poisoning, restaurants often serve duck medium-rare. Since duck has dark meat and tight muscle fibers, these muscles are often cooked much like beef for tender results.

Why duck meat is not popular as chicken? ›

For consumers, duck meat is less popular because it's dark meat and a little greasy in my opinion. Consumers love a nice, juicy, white chicken breast. For farmers, ducks can be a pain to raise.

How to remove the gamey taste from duck? ›

The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution. 2. Vinegar solution - 1 cup per quart of cold water. Use enough solution to cover the game completely.

What seasonings are good for ducks? ›

Combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, five spice powder, dry mustard and some salt and pepper in a bowl. Using a sharp knife, score the skin of the duck so it has a 1/4-inch diamond pattern. Rub the spice mixture all over the duck.

What makes duck taste gamey? ›

Gamey meat is almost entirely a function of the flavors in skin and fat. Most of the stronger aromas we perceive in meat are fat soluble and reside in that fat. A prime example is in waterfowl.

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